Author's Note: Haha, look at me posting once every year! Except this time I got out two stories, so I think that's a new record for me! And, we're close to the end of the "Color of Hunger" mini-arc, so I do hope you enjoy!
Chapter 6:
The Color of Hunger, pt. 3
Evierose grunted as another wave of hot, dusty air whipped passed her, turning the normally grainy sand into stinging bites. She pulled the hooded cloak closer around her, raising a hand to block out the glaring morning sun and study her surroundings.
All around them was nothing but sand - the golden waves were painted pink and orange with the sun's rising rays. The lacking moisture in the dry air was like breathing in sandpaper- especially with the steadily climbing temperature. Other than the bronze and golden dunes, there was one other landmark: a large tower, looming over more sand in the distance. It would be hard to miss it, as it was colored white, and reflected the sun as well. With a small sigh, Evie stretched her arms, then continued walking, lifting the long dress's skirt slightly to walk better. Next to her, Ace let out a long yawn, scratching at his neck as he adjusted the orange and red cloak he'd taken from The Inventor's stash of clothes, as well as his signature orange cowboy hat. Their own clothes had gotten wet from the cold snow of Albius Fields, and would take a while to dry - time that The Inventor said they didn't have to spare.
Speaking of The Inventor, Evierose's mind wandered back to a particular moment yesterday, that had been gnawing on the back of her mind anxiously…
*The Inventor shut the door of the well-hidden hideout, blowing on his hands as the cold continued to seep through the air around them. After what seemed like forever, the group finally made it into The Inventor's hideout. From the outside, it was completely covered in snow, blending perfectly with the snowy hills and tall evergreens that surrounded it. The base of a nearby mountain was where the door was located; it would be easy to miss had no one been looking for it. The inside, however, was much more spacious. It looked as if it was built into the mountain itself, with beams spaced out to help hold up the weight above them. The caves seemed to be a natural part of the environment, however, not built by The Inventor; only the opening seemed to be carved out and turned into something else.
Evierose couldn't help but to wonder how he managed to find them, staring into one of the long tunnels stretching off into darkness.
"Hmph, it might take a while to get the power working properly. Afterall, it's been decades since anything's run," The Inventor huffed out, huddling close to the flames Evierose and Ace provided. Elena's grey eyes lit up as she processed what the shivering old man had said. "I'll have to check out the power cells and see if they've died, or possibly been damaged."
"I'll go with you!" Elena said, smiling widely. She had the same gleam in her eyes that shone when she drew a new blueprint or completed a new weapon. "I'm handy when it comes to mechanics, and I can lift things too!"
"I don't see why not," The Inventor said, a polite smile on his face. Evierose frowned, a tingling sensation in her stomach at the hidden meaning behind the old man's glowing grin. "Besides, you might catch something these old eyes missed in the dark. You there, Flaming Boy," he called out, directing his violet eyes towards the freckled Commander, "We'll require a bit of light to see with, so-"
"I'll go." Evierose interrupted, shuffling forward. Her flame flickered a bit, and she squinted her eyes, reinforcing it. Ever since they set foot on this island, she'd been having problems using her magic - some spells she could cast without issue, like the ones when they were fighting the Paladins, or when they were in prison. Others, however… And it didn't help that they had to trek through the snow and ice as well… "We'll make this quick and easy."
"You? Hell no!" Elena spat, giving the girl a harsh glare. "You're the *last* person I want to watch my back!"
"Portgas is basically a walking campfire; he has to stay here with everyone else to keep them from getting frostbite," Evierose answered matter-of-factly, keeping her cool green eyes on the steaming blonde. "Isn't that right, Daphne?"
"Yes, well… it would be better for Ace to be here…" Daphne said hesitantly, catching Elena's upset gaze. "If there's a fireplace and some spare wood, he'd be the best to help set that up-"
"Then that's settled," Evierose said, cutting the doctor off. She made her way over to Elena and The Inventor, the flame fizzling every so often. "Alright, off we go to get this power on or whatever!"
"But-!" Elena grit her teeth after a sharp head shake and stern look from Sam. "Fine. Let me remind you that I don't trust you still, and I trust you *less* to keep the light going long enough for us to work properly."
"Then grab a torch, Princess!" Evierose snapped back, the purple flame sparking with her emotions as she stomped forward. Elena rolled her eyes at the silver-haired thief, then followed in her footsteps.
The Inventor took the lead, but placed Evierose next to him, claiming her purple-tinted light helped him best when he was close to it; Elena was right behind the two, having a better sense of navigation in dim lighting (or so she claimed). Evierose, lightly irritated at being directed by the black-and-white haired man, decided to turn it into an opportunity - she'd get a chance to watch The Inventor closely. Ever since Daphne suggested they use him against the Kokarikans, she'd felt him studying her. And it wasn't like how he merely observed the Whitebeard Pirates and learned a thing or two about them, no; he was actively *watching* her, like she was a broken machine and he couldn't quite figure out what went wrong… It made her think that he knew more about her than she thought, but wasn't confident he was right. That alone kept her anxious and guarded… She had to forcibly relax her muscles and soothe her magic every time he looked at her - it was good that she had the fire to channel it into.
And yet, the reaction she kept having only made her wish her magic wasn't so out of balance, or else she would've already pried into the old man's mind and pulled out every last secret to leverage against him…! Still, there was nothing she could do but observe him the same way he'd been observing her. So while he and Elena meandered around the power units, Evierose focused on keeping her breathing even and keeping the fire going- and watching every move The Inventor made. If he even made one wrong move, she'd catch him mid-act and… deal with him, personally. Without light, however, it made it harder for her to keep track of his movements. Finally, they found a few pieces of old, rotting wood lying around that could be used for makeshift torches. Elena happily took one, getting as far from Evierose as she could in the room, without straying away from The Inventor and his directions.
It didn't take long for the two to fix and clean the power units, and not a moment too soon, bright lights flooded the room. Evierose had to squint to keep her eyes from hurting, but they eventually adjusted, and the room that was nearly invisible before came into focus.
Just like the rest of the caves, it had the wet smell of dirt and mold. However, lining one wall were massive machines that beeped and lit up every so often. The quiet that had captivated the three while Elena and The Inventor worked was replaced with a soft, mechanical humming. All around the floor were wires leading up and around the caves, and into the ceilings and walls. It was a strange room that once again served to unnerve the silver-haired Witch. She dug her nails into her forearms to force herself back to calm, unsure of why it bothered her so much.
"Now that we've fixed this, let us return to your friends; I shall reveal the history of the Kokarikans and the Champion's Challenge," The Inventor said, oblivious to the thief's rising anxiety. Elena didn't notice either, and chatted with the old inventor as he directed them to the main room.
Once they arrived, Evierose saw that the rest of the group had made themselves comfortable with old rags on the ground. This room seemed to be made for rest, as there were chairs, blankets, and a few tables strewn about. Daphne was in the midst of checking Sam's swollen wrist, a makeshift ice pack in hand as she admonished him about avoiding further injury, while Pomona was (rather clumsily) wrapping a wound on Allen's arm. Ace had taken to stoking a fire, poking around in the logs with his hands, a bored look glazed across his face that melted into slight excitement at the trio re-emerging from one of the tunnels.
"Finally! Glad to see you've got the power back on!" the Commander called out, moving away to join the semi-circle the other four had created. The Inventor settled on an old, stout stool while Elena took to Sam's other side and Evierose - to Ace's surprise and curiosity - sat next to him, sticking so close to him he could see her trembling slightly. Shaking his head and deciding not to worry about it, he instead refocused on The Inventor, waving one hand in the air. "Okay, we've made it to your hideout and we've got power - now tell us about the Champion's Challenge!"
"As I'm sure you've noticed, the Kokarikans are very… particular when it comes to outsiders setting foot on their island. You already know that the Champion's Challenge begins here, yes?" The Inventor said, seeing the nods of the pirates. "But you don't quite understand the connection between the two - the Kokarikans and the Champion's Sword. They have a history that spans quite a ways back... Centuries ago, there were nothing but terrible monsters roaming across the land. They devastated any who made an attempt to bring life to this island. Legends say these monsters would drain your soul, leaving you nothing but a husk, an empty shell that withered away moments after contact. Many fell prey to their life-draining powers, and none knew how to stop it.
However, one day, a swordmaster shipwrecked on the island, and seeing the chaos, he chose to do something about it - they say he was able to fell 100 monsters within a single swipe of his sword. The islanders were beyond grateful for his help, and did whatever they could to help their Champion succeed, with many believing he'd been a gift sent by the gods to protect them with Divine power. Eventually, he cleared the island of the monsters, allowing the islanders to live in peace for the first time. As time marched on, their Champion began to grow old; to repay him back for everything he'd done, they dedicated their lives to fulfilling the last wish of their Champion."
"A-and what was that last wish…?" Pomona asked quietly, slightly leaning forward from the tale.
"'Watch over my sword, for my power is kept there,' the dying Champion said, 'as there are those who will seek it for the wrong reasons. Protect the sword from those with ill intent, and find the one like me who shall take my place!' And with those last words, the Islanders evolved into the Kokarikans - Guardians of the Champion's Sword." The Inventor said, leaning forward as he spoke quietly.
"So that's how the Champion's Challenge came to be…" Sam said, lowering his head in thought as he spoke. "But if they were supposed to find the Champion's replacement, why'd they stop hosting the Champion's Challenge?"
"Yeah… why *did* they?" Evierose muttered, an unreadable look blooming on her face. She'd grown increasingly withdrawn as The Inventor told his story, and avoided looking at him, Ace noticed.
"As you know with most tales, some parts become lost to time," he answered smoothly, keeping the small smile on his face. "All the current Guardians know is to 'protect the sword' from *anyone*."
"So what now?" Ace asked, giving The Inventor a cool glance. "How do we get the sword if they know we're here for it?"
"... There are four keys, each kept in a guarded tower in different areas of the island." he finally answered, leveling his gaze on the group. "Those keys will allow the main tower holding the sword to be opened and traversed. We need each other to access those keys - I know the terrain, and you have the strength to get past the Guardians. I can also disable the alarms so that they won't know you're coming."
"It's your call, Ace," Daphne said, turning to the Commander. He had a thoughtful gaze as he stared at a spot on the floor, before looking up slowly. "You've heard the story about the Champion's Challenge - is it enough to make you stay?"
"I just have… one question," he said slowly, meeting the expectant eyes of The Inventor. "Why do *you* want the sword?"
The Inventor closed his eyes, his small smile growing wider as he spoke. "I had a feeling you would ask, boy. The reason *I* want the sword? Well, it's quite simple - I want freedom." Here he opened his eyes, giving the group a tired look. "I have been trapped here for far too long, and forces out *there*, where you've come from, would make certain I never see the light of day again. I only want to find freedom to make my machines, and if the sword can give me that, so be it."
Ace said nothing as a silence descended on the group like the snowflakes falling outside. The only other sound that could be heard was the logs splitting in the fireplace, its crackling much more noticeable. Finally, the Commander looked up, giving the old man a crooked grin.
"I think we'll be staying. So let's get some rest, and you can tell us what we need and where to go, Inventor."
The Inventor smiled as he stood, crossing his arms. "Very well, I will let you know what our plans are after you've sufficiently rested. But be ready," he warned cheerfully, "because now the real battle begins."
"Don't you think it's weird?" Evierose said aloud, keeping her pace as she half-slipped down the dune, turning to give Ace a glance over her shoulder. "I mean, the story The Inventor told us doesn't add up."
"It sounded fine to me," Ace said, giving a one-shouldered shrug. "They don't like outsiders, and they think the sword is some divine gift that they're supposed to protect. What's so weird about it?"
"The fact that The Inventor *wants* it, for starters," she said, reaching up to pull her kinky twists into a tighter ponytail. "And the fact we found him imprisoned. I know *you* want the sword to answer your stupid question-"
"Hey! It's not a stupid question!"
"But the reason he needs it doesn't make sense. How is a sword supposed to give you *freedom*?," Evierose finished, ignoring Ace's outburst. "Plus, he said that they guard it because it's a *Divine* Weapon, only able to be wielded by the next 'Champion', for lack of a better description. But they don't know who that is, or where they'll come from. What makes them so sure *one of us* isn't that person?"
"They don't know they're supposed to be looking for the new Champion," Ace said, once again shrugging. "Didn't The Inventor say they only remember to guard the sword, not find the next Champion? Perhaps they assume he'll appear, just like in their legends."
"Alright, fair, but here's another thing," Evierose said, glancing at Ace as they stopped at the top of another dune. He paused, catching the skeptical look on her face. "How does *he* know all this supposed information about the sword and the Kokarikans, but *they* don't even remember their own legends? Where could he have *possibly* found that information if it's been 'lost to time' like he's said?"
That actually did cause the Commander to pause. He hadn't thought The Inventor's story was *that* suspicious, but how he came to know that information did seem shady… Ace hadn't bothered to ask him, seeing as they needed each other to get the sword, and he figured it wasn't worth asking. His information was probably accurate since he needed them as much as they needed him; trading information was always a surefire way to build temporary trust in a rocky relationship. In the end, there was nothing they could do but be on the defensive in case he tried to double cross them.
"We don't really have a choice right now to question him," Ace started slowly, meeting Evierose's gaze. "But you're right to not trust him. I don't really trust him either, but if we want to get the keys and the sword, we need to make it look like we're not suspecting him of anything."
"If you say so…" Evierose finally said, starting down the dune once more. "I'm only here to find the source of this island's strange energy- I don't really care about the Champion's Sword, that's all you and your friends."
"... Then why'd you choose to come with me?" Ace muttered quietly, following after her.
The duo walked in silence for a while, watching the looming tower grow closer and closer. The sand began to give way to hard stone, with only a few scraggly shrubs and stunted trees populating the area, as well as old stone ruins. Ace eyed the wires that ran around the gleaming white tower - as well as the Guardians standing nearby. He and Evierose hid behind a pile of stones, watching as the Guardians scanned the area, not once moving from their spots. The duo looked at each other, green eyes connecting with brown.
"How do you wanna do this, Portgas?" Evierose asked, smirking as she held a finger up. "We can either try sneaking in, or just fight our way through….? What's with that look?"
Evierose didn't quite know how to describe it- it was intense, the way he stared and hummed at her. His eyes slowly narrowed as he tilted his head this way and that, keeping the silver-haired thief under his scrutinizing eyes. He reached out, lifting her hands up to his eyes, then held her chin and tilted her head, still humming. It was… unexpected, for his normal behavior, and where she would normally be irritated, she was more concerned and dreading what would come next from the Second Division Commander. Knowing him, it wouldn't be something trivial, no. She'd spent enough weeks on the Moby Dick to recognize that Portgas D. Ace was way, *way* more chaotic than the rumors and stories about him let on.
"Or!" He said, finally letting her chin go as he crossed his arms. He closed his eyes, as a knowing smirk bloomed across his face. "We could use a distraction!"
"... and who would be doing the distraction?" Evierose asked slowly. Somehow, she knew the answer before he even said it.
"How fast can you run?" He said instead, starting to get up. Evierose shook her head vehemently, giving the black-haired man a glare.
"Oh no, I am *not*-!"
"Too late!" He interrupted, suddenly picking her up. A shocked gasp left her mouth, and before she could think to retaliate, he *threw* her across the field -
Right into the Guardians' line of sight.
She managed to right herself before she landed, and turned to chew the Commander out; before she could, a dagger was shoved under her chin.
"Oh, you are so dead when I'm done with this….!" Evierose hissed quietly, holding her hands up in a placating gesture.
The Guardians said nothing, watching her carefully for any signs of an attack - but found she disappeared in the blink of an eye. Confused, they looked around quickly, until a whistle caught their attention. Standing perfectly calm - and quite a distance away from the Tower - was Evierose, waving her hands at them. Without hesitation they gave chase, while Evierose continued to run away, sometimes teleporting when she needed to. Ace smiled, proud his plan had gone without a hitch. The guards had left the door unoccupied, and Evierose hadn't come back to him (probably to keep the Guardians from finding him, as well).
"Now then," Ace said as he stood, readjusting his hat. "Let's get this party started."
~ItriedtomakeAcesoundcoolbuthejustsoundslikeadorklol~
"Allen, on your left!" he heard Pomona call out.
He dodged, wincing as the dagger's sharp edge cut into his skin. While she was preoccupied with dismantling the key's defense mechanisms (as per the Inventor's instructions), Allen took to disabling the rest of the Guardians who'd been stationed in the Key's Tower. Though there were only two of them - which was pretty lax in his opinion - they put up a hard fight, refusing to stay down. Pomona had given him her dagger to use, and while he had a bit of experience using bladed weapons, his strengths were in hand-to-hand. Which… the dagger and knife-wielding Guardians did not make it any easier.
"Pomona, how long is it gonna take?" Allen called out, his foot slipping and splashing into the pool of water surrounding them.
When the Inventor told them the area they'd be searching, he was a bit skeptical. First a jungle, then snow, and now a waterfall? For such an island to have so many extremes in its climate seemed almost… *magical*. Then again, New World weather wasn't any different, so who was he to judge? Seidon Falls (as the waterfall was named) was no different than any other waterfall he'd seen. Branching off from the southern side of Albius Fields, it gave way to a much warmer climate with what looked to be tropical vegetation, and the terrain became much higher. Small rivers of melting ice weaved their ways through the trees, while others merged into the large waterfall he and Pomona stood at the top of. Looking down from the crescent moon-shaped cliff, they saw the glistening white tower in the middle of the lake - the tower that held the key, as the Inventor had told them. Once inside, they saw a portion of the water trickled into the room the unlocking mechanism was in; surrounding the pedestal it rested on were four pillars, making a half-circle around it. But before Allen could think on it more, the door burst open, and two Guardians ran inside, weapons raised.
"I-I'm almost done- watch out!" she cried out, too late for them.
Allen felt the Guardian's attack connect, and they tripped, falling face first into the pool of water surrounding the mechanism. He tried to fight against the grip the Guardian had on their arms, but it was no use; one moment later, they were pulled from the water, arms locked behind their back. Pomona let out a whimper as the Guardian approached, barely dodging the swinging blade. The next time, however, wasn't so lucky, as she tripped over her long red skirt, landing on her back. Just as the Guardian attacked, she curled up into a ball…
And then a strange thing happened.
The guardian was hit with a burst of water, knocking them into a wall. It looked as though it had come from the pool of water surrounding them, and hit them with the force of a cannonball. They slid down from the dent they'd made, seemingly unconscious. The Guardian holding Allen looked on in shock, and in that brief confusion, their grip loosened enough for Allen to slip free and attack. A few well-placed hits later, and they were down.
Quickly, Allen rushed over to Pomona, holding a hand out to help her up. She gratefully took it and stood. "You okay, Pom?"
"Y-yes, thank you," she answered, before moving back over to the lock. Allen followed, a slightly puzzled expression on his face.
"What was that, anyway? That burst of water?" he asked, watching as her hands tinkered with the mechanisms. To be honest, it didn't look like a key to *anything*; it looked more like a puzzle cube, with its uneven sides and colored sections.
"I don't know… but whatever it may be, we were lucky it chose to happen then," Pomona said, her eyes narrowed. "Perhaps... is it a failsafe of the tower? However, if it is… why would it attack a Guardian?"
"Maybe they triggered it by accident, but like you said, we were lucky," Allen muttered, giving their downed opponents a wary stare.
"And… done!" Pomona grinned, stepping back as the now-fixed cube slid into the pedestal. The tower rumbled a bit, creaking and groaning, before slowly settling down. Where the cube had gone into the pedestal another item popped out. It looked like a fragment to something, which Allen guessed was the key that would unlock the Champion's Tower. Pomona gently picked it up, putting it into her pouch, then turned to leave. The two passed by the Guardian lying on the ground, when they suddenly reached out, grabbing Pomona's ankle. Their dazed eyes were desperate as they held tightly to her, speaking in their language.
*"Do not give him the key…!"* they quietly begged, their shaking hands falling to the hem of her skirt. Pomona pulled away and backed up quickly, but Allen paused, an uneasy feeling building in his stomach. *"The Inventor… he is not to be trusted!"*
*"Why not? What is he planning?"* Allen said, speaking back to them in their language. Of course he and his friends didn't wholeheartedly trust in the Inventor's words, but with no other proof that he was lying about the Champion's Tower, the pirates had no choice but to follow along reluctantly. *"Tell me, and maybe we will give you your key fragment back."*
But the Guardian either didn't hear Allen or did not know. *"He cannot be… trusted with the key… he lies…!"
"What is he saying...?" Pomona asked hesitantly.
*"Is he dangerous? Answer me!"* Allen said, bending down and grabbing the half-awake Guardian's shirt front. That ill feeling blossomed into panic as he tried to remember where each of his friends had gone; Sam and Elena were at the Inventor's hideout, Evierose and Ace had gone to Barabin Desert, and Daphne… *"Tell me what you know, now!"*
*"He wishes… for chaos… a wicked heart he has…"* the Guardian muttered, head lolling to the side as they struggled to stay awake. *"The sword… not for him… Only the green-eyed one… can…"*
"Allen, what's going on?" Pomona tried again.
The Guardian's mouth slackened, and their head stilled. Allen grit his teeth, shaking the now-sleeping Guardian. *"Wake up! What does he want with the sword?!"
"Allen! Hey!" Pomona called out, her arms shaking as Allen kept trying to wake the Guardian back up. Finally, she grabbed him, pulling him away and looking into his alarmed blue eyes. "What's going on…? What did they say to you?"
"... They said…. They said not to trust the Inventor…" he finally answered, heading for the exit quickly. Pomona was right on his heels, worry etched on her delicate face. "I don't know what he's planning but we need to get back to the hideout, *now*."
Pomona didn't disagree, and the two began their journey back to the hidden mountain lab.
… Where Sam and Elena waited in silence, absolutely bored.
With Sam's wrist still swollen, he wasn't counted in the dividing of teams, and with Elena volunteering to stay behind with him, that left the pirates short one person - forcing Daphne to accompany the Inventor to the Key's Tower hidden in Albius Fields. There was no telling how long it would take everyone to finish and make their way back, and there was nothing else to do. Elena sighed for the hundredth time, leaning back against an old box.
"Alright, I'm bored." Elena announced, turning to look at Sam, who laid on a pile of old blankets. His eyes were closed, but he titled his head slightly in her direction. "How much longer is it going to take…?"
"Dunno… according to The Inventor, it'll take at least half a day to get to the towers," Sam said, letting out a yawn. "If it takes that long to get there, then they probably won't be back until evening, at the earliest."
"Well I'm tired of waiting around doing nothing." the blonde shipwright stood, huffing as she placed her hands on her hips. Her silver eyes scanned the open area, taking note of the numerous caves that branched off to who-knows-where. "So, I'm gonna go exploring- wanna come?"
"Better to go with you and keep you out of trouble than lay here doing nothing,," Sam half-joked, opening his eyes and getting up. He stretched his legs, gently massaged his wrapped wrist, then strolled over to where Elena stood, resting an arm and his head on top of hers. "Wanna pick a cave and see where it leads us?"
"No, I have a better idea…" Elena reached into her jumpsuit pocket, pulling out the weapon made by the Kokarikans. "I wanna see if The Inventor has any Paladin materials left over, that we could use against the Kokarikans!"
"Not a bad idea… then, lead the way," Sam said, following the short blonde as she headed down one tunnel.
She seemed to already have the destination in mind, as she didn't bother to look in any of the open doorways they passed. In fact, this was familiar to him when the Inventor gave them a tour earlier- most of them were empty work and storage rooms, along with a bathroom. But, there was one door that was kept under lock and key, Sam noticed; it was at the end of the hall, and the Inventor didn't bother to address it. To Sam, that meant it was something personal, that he wanted to keep a secret. Which, normally, the orange-haired sharpshooter would ignore, but given the shady nature of the pepper-haired Inventor, he was more inclined to be nosey…
And, it seemed Elena had the same idea, as she marched straight to the end of the hall. Sam kept up with her quick pace, stopping as she bent in front of the lock, putting her eye up close to it. "I think this is where he's storing the Paladin parts. Hmm, this shouldn't be too hard to crack open…"
With a hum, she pulled out her lock-picking kit then got to work. Only a moment later was there a click, and she stood, a large smile on her face. "Bingo! Now let's see what-"
"Hold on." Sam suddenly said, sticking his hand out to stop her from turning the doorknob.
He pulled her away from the wooden door, instead feeling around the edges carefully. He couldn't tell with his swollen left wrist, but he didn't feel any wires nor anything that could indicate a trap… The sharpshooter put his ear up to the door, but didn't hear anything either. Slowly, he turned the doorknob, still with his ear pressed against it; but there was no clicking sound, no wire-straining, nothing. After a minute, he stood, examining the open doorway. There was no light inside the room, but… there was the faint glow of something silver. Maybe Elena was right- this might be where he kept the spare Paladin parts.
"Lucky guess, huh…?" Elena whispered half-heartedly after a moment of silence. She slightly turned to Sam. "Is it safe to go in now?"
"Oh, uh… yeah, it is," Sam answered, stepping out of the way to let Elena through with the torch. He followed closely, taking care to watch where he stepped (of what he could see anyway).
The duo felt around as they made their way to the glowing pile of silver. The more they spent in the room, the better their eyes adjusted, and they could make out more blurred shapes- a table here, a chair there, what looked to be tools and spare parts lying around. But the silver glowing wasn't spread out, like they expected in a room full of spare pieces. No, it was concentrated to one area; the closer they got, the brighter it glowed. Even the dust swirling in the slightly moist air was caught in the glowing, helping to give it shape. Sam's brown eyes narrowed as they strained to examine what the gleaming object was.
"It… it looks like a suit…?" Elena muttered, passing the torch off to Sam. He held it up as she stepped closer, reaching a hand out. Gently, her fingertips brushed against the suit, taking a layer of dust off. Just like she'd said, it looked to be a full-body suit, made up of Paladin parts. There was a chest plate, arm and leg protectors, pants, gloves, and even a helmet.
Strangely, there was also a sheath for a sword… but it was empty.
"Why does he have a suit?" Sam said quietly, eyeing the pulsating lights anxiously. He shifted on his feet, suddenly feeling a chill run down his spine. "And… where's the sword?"
"... I don't know, but I'm not getting a good feeling about any of this…" the blonde-haired shipwright anxiously muttered, half heartedly waving a hand towards the pulsing suit. "Did… Did the Inventor ever mention *when* he learned about the Champion's Sword? Like, at all?"
"... No, he didn't." Sam answered quietly, still eyeing the suit. "And I find that very, *very* suspicious."
"I… think we need to get out of here…" Elena said quietly, standing up quickly. Sam nodded in agreement, hopping up from the crouched position he was in and quickly making his way to the door. Quickly, he closed it, making sure the lock clicked back into place as he did so.
And as the two returned to the large cavern from before, the door to the hideout opened, revealing a snow-covered Inventor, as well as Allen and Pomona. Allen eyed The Inventor suspiciously, before shifting his eyes to the tense mechanic and sharpshooter. Sam raised an eyebrow at Allen's standoffish demeanor, while The Inventor shook off his snow, finishing up whatever he'd been saying before.
"- and so, that is how we got separated," The Inventor sighed sadly, opening his bag. Inside the bag was what looked to be pieces of a 3D puzzle; there were three pieces already in there. He dumped them onto the floor, huffing as he stared at them.
"I see… That sounds like something she would do," Allen said, though he quickly cut a look to Sam and Elena, who only seemed confused. "But, I still think we should take a moment to search for her- they can't have gotten that far, can they?"
"The Guardians move fast, my boy," The Inventor countered, tinkering with the three puzzle pieces as he spoke. "In the time it took for me to escape, they've most likely taken her and stashed her away- they're probably hoping to use her as bait…"
"Use who as bait…?" Sam asked, though the uneasy feeling he got from Allen's increasingly worried looks didn't subside. "Wait… Where's Daphne?"
The duo shifted their weight uneasily, avoiding both Sam and Elena's eyes. Pomona wrung her hands together in her dress's skirt, biting her lip, while Allen tightly clenched his forearms, folding in on himself. Sam's dread increased to panic as he stood, clenching his fists. She couldn't have been dead, otherwise Allen and Pomona wouldn't be as calm as they were- at least, they'd be more than worried and put-off. But still, it didn't account for their avoidance in answering. Clearly *something* had happened, and whatever it was… it wasn't good. Finally, Allen seemed to work up the courage to answer the sharpshooter, lifting his head and giving him a distressed stare.
"She was… kidnapped."
~uhohhowunfortunatethingsareheatingup~
Daphne was getting tired of this "damsel-in-distress" role.
She blew a breath out as she watched the poisonous liquid rise higher, shifting on her little perch. First, she got knocked out and held captive in a cage; then, she got paired up with The Inventor (whom she didn't trust all that much anyway), and because of that, she got stuck in some death trap with a poison she didn't know! She swore when she got out of her, she was going to have to do *something* to avoid this situation again. And *why* exactly did it always end up being her, anyway? Her mace bumped against the wall lightly, reminding her once more she didn't have a lot of space to start with, and she glanced around once more in the hopes she'd find something to help her escape. But there was nothing but the shiny, smooth walls of this pit, six spouts steadily pouring out liquid death, and a few ledges to hide. In the center of the room was a pedestal- a space where the Key Fragment for the Champion's Tower rested…
Before The Inventor stole it and left her here to die.
She'd stupidly let her guard down, giving that old man the time to undo the mechanisms holding the Key Fragment- but before she comprehended what happened, the door had been locked, and the defenses she thought had been dismantled (another mistake on her part) were activated, spewing poison right towards her. She didn't even have her belt or her pouches with her, so she couldn't even try to counteract it- The Inventor took that, too, when he left her; all she had was her mace, but what good would that do?
"Seriously… What was I thinking?"
The salmon-pink haired girl huffed, warily watching the poison. Given the fact The Inventor left her here, that meant whatever he was planning couldn't be good; he assumed she would die here, with no one to rescue her or come help her. He could twist the story any which way, tell her friends that she ran off, or got captured, or was even *killed*- and unless she got out of this to prove him wrong, they'd have no choice but to believe him…
"Urgh… it stinks…"
In the back of her head, she wondered if she really would be harmed by this…
It was a secret that she kept to herself, that not even Marco or Whitebeard knew about. Sometimes, if faced with a life-threatening situation, where she *knew* she was going to die… Someone or *something* prevented it from happening.
She'd noticed after a nasty run in with a poison she'd been trying to experiment with- somehow, she'd gotten some on her face and breathed it in. She'd started coughing up blood and passed out- and apparently wasn't found until hours later. But, where she *knew* she should've died from the contact, she simply woke up, all the better. In fact, Marco was surprised to see her up, telling her how pale she looked- almost as if she was dead… But all she had was a mild headache and a few sore muscles; nothing else was wrong, so she was up and back working by the end of the day.
Thinking back on it, right before she passed out, she swore she saw some sort of… shadowy figure hovering over her, one arm stretched out over her motionless body. But other than that, she had nothing else to go on… Nothing else except for seeing him, moments before death.
"I know you're watching me," Daphne said aloud to the empty room. There was no response, but she kept going. "I'm going to jump- really, I'll do it. If you… if you're really some sort of guardian angel or whatever, then you'll help me… right? You'll keep me from dying."
There was no indication of the Shadowy Being hearing or even acknowledging her request, but… She knew it was there, just out of her field of sight.
"Fuck it- here's to hoping I make it through this!" Daphne said, taking one deep breath; before she could talk herself out of it, she pushed off from the tiny ledge, aiming for the ground she knew was half-submerged underneath the poison.
She closed her eyes, nearly passing out as her feet made contact with the liquid- her toes sizzled, her nerves sparking and firing rapidly as they tried to process the pain she was in, and her body slipped, crashing into the ground. More pain zipped up her arms and legs, and Daphne had to bite her tongue as she forced herself to stand, wading through the poison to the doors. Hurriedly, she shoved her shoulder against them- but they didn't budge and inch. Panicked and feeling the deadly liquid rushing against her thighs, she repeatedly slammed against them, growing more weary with each slam. Finally, she lost her energy, and could only tiredly lean against the doors. Her vision was growing fuzzy… and it was hard to breathe… she couldn't even… feel her legs anymore…
"Haha… Guess… I was wrong…" the pink-haired doctor mumbled, closing her drooping eyelids. "Mom… I'll be seeing you soon…"
Her legs gave out underneath her, and she slipped into the yellowish-green liquid, getting some into her mouth and nostrils as she was submerged. She didn't stay under for long, however, as a hand reached into the pooling poison, pulling her out. A moment later, the doors burst open and everything spilled out- including Daphne's still body. One beat later, and she began coughing, spitting the foul-tasting solution out, blinking her eyes and shakily getting to her knees. Above her was the shadowy figure, but… it wasn't so shadowy this time. Though her eyesight was blurry and recovering, she could make out gray colored hair and orange eyes.
"Who…?"
She didn't get her answer as the figure placed a hand on her head, and she collapsed, unable to fight the urge to sleep.
~ooooohmysteriouscharacterwhoisit~
"Is this- *huff huff* - revenge for me - *huff* - throwing you earlier?" Ace panted as he ran, his footsteps crunching through the white snow as he weaved in and out of the pristine evergreens. Hot on his trail were a couple of Guardians, who were shouting as they followed his footsteps.
And on his shoulder was Evierose, whom he was carrying like a sack. She was breathing heavily, a sickly look on her face as she bounced around, no doubt feeling worse from the constant motion.
After they managed to get the Key Fragment from Barabin Desert's Tower, Ace suggested they teleport back to Albius Fields and save themselves the travel time. Evie had been reluctant at first, but after he pestered her enough, she went through with it… But instead of ending up at the Inventor's Hideout, they landed dab smack in front of a group of Guardians, who looked surprised at the duo appearing out of thin air. And, Evierose collapsed to her knees, trembling in the snow. Ace had no choice but to grab her and run, using his flames as a deterrent towards the Guardians, and hastening their escape. The Guardians chased after, and whenever he could, he'd shoot flames in their direction to slow them down. Eventually, he managed to get away, and hid behind a rather large tree.
Panting, he set Evierose down, getting ready to chew her out- but noticed she was barely hanging on by a thread. That was weird… she was fine earlier, but as soon as they entered the snowy fields, she suddenly looked as if her energy was being sapped away.
Weakly, and with a bit of frustration, he watched as she beat her fist against her leg- and noticed she was struggling to move it, too. "Stupid… Snow…"
"Snow? Is the snow making you feel this way?" Ace said, shifting and pulling her close to him. He tried to increase the warmth of the air around him, hoping it'd help. But her body was still quivering, and she clasped her hands together, an anxious look on her face. "So you… didn't do this on purpose…"
"Of course not, you idiot!" She snapped, turning slightly to face him. "Do I look like I have a death wish?!"
"You look like you're about to pass out," Ace pointed out, raising an eyebrow. "Have you… Always had a weakness to snow like this?"
Because of how close they were, he could feel her whole body tense, and she turned away from him- but not before he caught the panic that blossomed in her eyes. Really, what did she have to be so afraid of? She shifted a bit more (getting noticeably further from him), and let out a small breath before answering his question. "Yes… It's why I was hesitant to use my mag… um, major tricks."
Ace heard her stumble, but wasn't sure what she'd almost said. Instead, he stood, lifting Evierose with him. "Then, I guess we'd better get outta this snow- can you at least tell me the direction of the Hideout?"
He looked down at her, and she squinted her eyes, before lifting a hand and pointing further in the trees. "It's over that way… I think."
"You think?"
"Well my Locator Spell's a little wonky right now, so forgive me for not being one-hundred percent confident!"
"Spell?" Ace repeated, confused. There it was again- the brief panic that flared in her eyes.
She averted her gaze, clasping her hands again. "Oh, uh- it's just a cute little name I came up with for all the stuff I can do… it's kinda like magic, isn't it?"
"... Yeah, I guess it is," Ace muttered in agreement, starting off in the direction she gave him.
The two fell into silence, with only the crunch of the snow breaking the taut silence. Occasionally, he'd check on the unusually quiet Evierose; for now, she'd closed her eyes, resting her head against Ace's chest. Her hands were folded tightly against her chest. Her breathing was short, but heavy- and Ace worried the snow really *was* affecting her deeply. But at the same time…
She was hiding something from him.
He figured it was related to her Devil Fruit, with the way she kept trying to reroute the conversation away from any of her abilities, or weaknesses she might have. He'd had his suspicions (along with the others) that it wasn't what she said it was, but short of throwing her into the ocean, they didn't really have a way to prove it. They didn't really keep sea stone on board (considering how many of the members were Devil Fruit Users themselves), and there wasn't really much else to do but take her word for it… And… he felt like he was forgetting something. There was something nagging him, in the back of his mind, that made him think he was forgetting something important- something that would make all her strange behaviors explainable. But no matter how hard he tried to remember, it simply escaped him, so he shelved the issue for now and focused on getting them to the cavernous hideout. The Guardians seemed to have lost their trail, but it didn't stop Ace from keeping up with his fast pace, hoping the snow would cover their tracks fast enough-
"I'm sorry…"
"What?" He'd forgotten Evierose was still awake… she'd been so quiet that he thought she'd fallen asleep. But she blearily opened one green eye, glancing up at him. "What're ya sorry for?"
"... I know I seem untrustworthy, and like I'll stab you in the back the minute it's convenient but…" Here she paused, and Ace waited for her to finish.
When she didn't, he prodded. "But… what?"
"You all are too nice to me." she finished. Ace was taken aback- what'd she mean by *that*? "I don't want your kindness… I don't want to hope. I'm tired of it… of everything. If… you were mean to me like Elena, I could handle it, but when you all smile and laugh… when you include me, and care for me I… I don't know what to do…! It *scares* me to want to be happy…"
Ace was silent for a moment, stewing over Evie's words. He shifted her around in his arms to an easier position to carry, and a soft smile crossed his face.
"Of course we'd be kind to you- you're one of us now. It'd be weird if we treated you poorly. And you don't deserve that, anyway…. No one deserves to be treated harshly because of a few mistakes. And, you're riding with the strongest pirate crew in the Blues- you've got nothing to fear, Evierose."
A bitter chuckle escaped from her lips, and she withdrew into herself. "Haha… If only you knew; you honestly have no idea, but… it's better and *safer* that way."
"Wait what do you mean by-"
Ace was cut off as the sound of a door opening sliced through the cold air. Both he and Evie looked up, seeing the door to the hideout opening up. Sam was standing in it, and Elena was holding him back by one arm. Both of them looked distraught, and the last snippet of their conversation could be caught as the Commander and Thief approached.
"We'll we can't keep *waiting*! We should just go and see what we can do!"
"With your injured wrist you're more likely to get caught again, Sam! Once that Spearwoman and Ace come back, we can regroup and figure out our next steps!"
"What happened?" Evierose asked, making a motion to hop out of Ace's arms. Both Sam and Elena looked up upon hearing their voices, and relief mixed with the panic.
"Daphne's been captured by the Guardians again- we need to rescue her, but…" Elena hesitated, turning back slightly to the inside of the Hideout. It was clear this was a conversation they'd been repeatedly having, with no new solutions to the issue at hand.
Ace clenched his fists as he shoved his way into the hideout, and the other three pirates followed. On the floor of the main room, Allen, Pomona, and The Inventor sat, tinkering around with pieces of green and gold fragments. He stomped his way there, looming over the three angrily.
"Why are you all sitting around when Daphne's been kidnapped?!"
"Because, Flaming Boy- getting into the Guardians' holding cell would be easier if there was something else to distract them." The Inventor answered, with a tone that said he was tired of repeating it. "She is no longer in Albius Fields- the Guardians would make sure of that. If we can get the Champion's Tower open, they'll have no choice but to head there, fearing the worst is happening."
"... Screw that- we can go get her *and* the Champion's Sword." Ace responded instead, turning back to the door, Sam and Elena made a motion to follow him, when The Inventor sighed loudly. The trio halted, facing him once more as a pained look crossed his face.
"I didn't want to tell you this, but… I wasn't being exactly truthful earlier," he said, getting to his feet. The puzzle pieces were all put together now, and he held his hand out for the last piece. Ace retrieved it from his pouch- but didn't drop it into The Inventor's waiting hand. "When I said Miss Daphne had been captured, I was lying. I thought if I told you this, it would spare your hearts and feelings- that you'd be able to focus on getting to the Champion's Sword…"
An ill feeling settled in Ace's stomach, and his grip on the last Key Fragment became slippery from his sweat. "... What are you getting at? She… she couldn't be…!"
"Yes- Miss Daphne is dead." He answered bluntly.
*thunk!*
The last Key Fragment fell from Ace's hand, and Pomona let out a yelp, tears forming in her eyes. Sam punched the wall, sliding down to his knees, and Elena joined him.
"Sh…she can't be…" Ace said faintly, turning his brown eyes onto The Inventor, who stooped down and picked up the final fragment. It clicked into place with the rest of the pieces, and he stood by the door. "There's no way she would… she would…"
"Your friend… she lured the Guardians in her direction to allow me time to escape… I watched them cut her down…" The Inventor gave them a sorrowful look as he fiddled with the Champion Tower's Key. "I am sorry to be delivering this news this way…"
"I should've gone with her…!" Sam growled out, slamming his fist into the wall again. "I should've insisted on it… *Dammit!*"
"No, *I* should've gone…!" Elena choked out, clenching a fist over her heart. "They better hope I don't encounter them again or else-!"
"I know you all are mourning, but- there *is* a way to bring your friend back…"
The pirates' head snapped up as his voice, and Pomona jumped to her feet, hope shining in her sea green eyes. "How?! How do we do it?!"
"With the Champion's Sword," The Inventor smirked, before patting the Key. "As stated, the one who wields the Champion's Sword wields unlimited power- even the power to defy Death's permanence. If you come with me, we can use the sword to bring your friend back-!"
Ace had forgotten Evierose was with them, because of how quiet she'd been- but he remembered now, watching as she pinned The Inventor against the wall, his dagger jammed into the hard stone next to his head. He didn't even register her moving, only seeing her stab the dagger in, a burning fury behind her green eyes. He heard Allen let out a shocked gasp, and Pomona covered her mouth with her hands.
"What game are you playing at?" she hissed, gripping the dagger tightly. The other arm pressed against his neck. "You've been lying this whole time- what are you *getting out of it?!*"
"What are you talking about?" Ace said, crossing his arms. "Evierose, now's not the time to be cryptic!"
"I'm not sure what you mean, little lady," The Inventor said, keeping his innocent facade up. "As I've said, I will help you use the sword to bring your friend back-"
"That's funny- I've been tracking every single one of our locations since we split up this morning," Evierose interrupted, taking the knife out from the wall and placing it under The Inventor's chin. "It was mostly for safety reasons- a way for me to make sure we were all accounted for… But I also did it in case something went wrong."
Here, The Inventor went silent, and Evierose turned her attention to the pirates, who were watching on in confusion.
"Daphne's been in the same location for hours- in Albius Fields." Evie continued, her face set with a serious glare as she looked at The Inventor. "The moment Daphne died, I would've known it. The Living and The Dead have *very* different energies. So again…"
Five pairs of eyes swiveled to The Inventor, and he closed his eyes, an annoyed look crossing his face. When he opened them again, they were full of malic as he glared at Evierose.
"You Witches were always an annoying lot, what with your spells and enchantments!" he spat out. Evierose faltered, eyes widening in panic.
The Inventor smirked, and before she could react, he clamped a silver bracelet with an amber and hazel-colored gem onto her wrist. She let out a cry of pain, collapsing to her knees as she pulled at the cuff, while the gem glowed brightly. Ace jumped to her aid, a fist lighting with fire, but The Inventor pulled out a remote, pressing a few buttons on it. The cavern rumbled, and out of the door down at the end of the hall, came all sorts of Paladin parts. Immediately, they began attacking the four pirates, who had no choice but to defend themselves.
"Ah!" Pomona cried out as she ducked under a table, shaking and covering her head. Allen stomped on a small Paladin Spider and pulled Pomona away from the chaos, watching as more Paladin parts spilled from the caverns.
"Hey, wait!" Sam cried out, ducking as a rather large piece sped past him and Elena. His eyes widened in realization as he recognized it, watching the parts latch onto The Inventor's body.
He gave the pirates a sarcastic wave as he flew out the door, not bothering to open it as he went. It blew off its hinges, letting in the blowing snow. Ace let out an angry yell as The Inventor got away, using his fire to burn as many of the Paladin parts as he could. The cavern rumbled with the battle that was going on, and rocks fell from the ceiling. Finally, the last Paladin part fell into a charred pile, leaving nothing behind but the sound of melting metal and the pirates' labored breathing. Ace turned his attention back to Evierose, who'd collapsed while the battle was going on.
"Hey! Wake up!" he said, shaking her shoulder. But she could only groan in pain, her entire body trembling fiercely. She weakly raised the arm with the glowing cuff, green eyes dulled and blurry. Ace studied the bracelet briefly, wondering why it hurt her so much, but didn't question her. "Elena, come break this!"
The shipwright said no more, dropping to her knees and gripping the cuff. With little effort, she snapped it off, and the gem stopped glowing. Carefully, she made sure to toss it away from Evierose, who'd stopped quivering. Slowly, she tried to stand using the wall as support, but collapsed back to her knees, breathing labored.
"Whoa, slow down- you need to rest!" Ace said, putting a firm hand on her shoulder. But she shrugged it off, giving him an anxious look. "What is it?"
"We need to stop The Inventor…" she said quietly, shaking her head as she tried to stand. This time, managed to successfully do so, but leaned heavily on the wall. Ace shook his head at her statement.
"Wh- he can wait, we've got other things to worry-"
"No!" Evierose yelled, clenching her fist. "I know- I know what the Champion's Sword is; I knew I'd heard it from somewhere, but I thought it was just a myth…! If we don't stop him now…!"
"But Daphne needs our help!" Ace countered. Evierose faltered, gritting her teeth. He was right- and as of right now, she didn't have enough energy to mass teleport all five (six, if they got Daphne) around the island.
"We'll have to split up." Sam suggested. "How about Allen goes with me and Elena to help Daphne, and you go with Evierose and Pomona to stop The Inventor?"
"That… that could work…" Ace said, nodding in agreement. "Then, it's settled…"
The others agreed, and began gathering their supplies, before standing in front of the busted down door. Before Sam could leave, however, Evierose called to him.
"Wait!"
He turned back, and she held her hand out to him. In it was a glass ball. It was about the size of a marble, but was a translucent, deep purple; he noticed etched into it was an intricate drawing of a crescent moon. He raised an orange eyebrow in confusion as he put it in his pocket.
"It'll make it easier for you to meet up with us," Evie explained. She seemed to be getting better the more time wore on- though she eyed the snow warily. "Just throw it against the ground, and it should take you to our immediate location."
"Huh?! Why haven't you been handing these out this whole time you- mmmfgh!" Elena started, but Allen clamped a hand over her mouth at Sam's silent gesture. He dragged her towards the door and out of the Hideout, while Sam nodded at Evie's instructions.
"Throw it against the ground when we get Daphne, got it." With that, he gave them a silent nod, before diving into the snow.
Left in the Hideout was Evierose, Pomona, and Ace, who all were dreading and apprehensive of the task before them. Finally, Ace spoke up. "You said you knew what the Champion's Sword was, Evierose… and that it would be bad if The Inventor got it."
"Yes, it would- I'd forgotten the legend until he mentioned it was a sword that could defy Death… It isn't but… if he gets his hands on it… What happens next is going to be far worse than you could imagine." She said solemnly.
Ace only hummed silently, before seeing her hold her hands out to him and Pomona. "Come on- I'll teleport us. It'll be faster than running through the snow."
"Are we actually going to make it out of Albius Fields this time?" Ace half-joked, and Evie snorted, shrugging her shoulders.
"At the very least, we'll make it to the edge of the Fields- but that's better than nothing." she quipped back. Underneath the trio, a glowing light appeared, and in the blink of an eye, they were gone.
When Ace opened his eyes, he saw they were standing in a field. It was warm, with flowers blooming, animals running through the brush, and a sweet breeze blowing. In the distance, he saw two large, white towers jutting up over the valley. They were a bit of a way away from them, meaning they'd have to walk to get there.
"Well, we've got no time to lose." he said, turning towards the direction of the towers. Because according to Evie, they'd have to face something worse of they let The Inventor have his way.
He wouldn't- not until Ace paid him back tenfold.